“He’s probably the guy that I’m around the most on the 5 team.” Kyle Larson said these words back in April, when Hendrick Motorsports lost one of its crown jewels. Jon Edwards, who served as a public relations representative both for Kyle Larson and for four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon, passed away. He left behind a treasure trove of memories, which have been vibrant and alive even after his passing. And those memories were evoked by Larson after his recent triumph.

The NASCAR Cup Series championship race unfolded last Sunday with much zest. Kyle Larson, although in the Final Four, did not initially look like a great contender for the title. However, the HMS star got it done by the time the checkered flag waved – and Jon Edwards must have been smiling from above.

Kyle Larson sends love to the other side

Speaking at the NASCAR Awards Ceremony, Kyle Larson dedicated his championship to the late Jon Edwards. “In the closing tonight, I want to dedicate this championship to someone who meant so much to us – Jon Edwards. Jon wasn’t just our director of racing communications. He was our friend, our teammate, and truly the heart of his team. His passion, his humor, and the way he brought people together left a mark on every one of us. Even though he’s no longer with us, his spirit has been with us every step away this season.”

The Cup Series finale race was especially dramatic, as Denny Hamlin was the projected winner. The Joe Gibbs Racing veteran led for 208 of 312 laps, winning the second stage and overcoming tire issues. However, a remarkable stroke of luck appeared for Kyle Larson on lap 309. William Byron’s caution shuffled the grid, and Larson started ahead of Hamlin – flipping the script and winning the title. This jaw-dropping turn of events seemed miraculous for HMS to say the least. And so, Kyle Larson chose to dedicate this miracle to Edwards, who is on the other side. “Jon, this one’s for you. We miss you, we love you, and I hope we made you proud,” he said.

With this heartfelt tribute, Kyle Larson made it a memorable milestone for the entire team. Not only did he fetch his second Cup Series title, but he also did it in the year he lost a close friend. Back in April, Larson divulged more of the fuzzy relationship he shared with Edwards. “He meant a lot to me personally. Just getting to be with him since 2021 and go on a couple of vacations and stuff with him, getting to know him, and just be around him a lot,” he said. “I’m gonna miss having him around.”

Jon Edwards made stars like Gordon and Larson more accessible to the media to better tell their stories. What’s more, he handled each media request with the same kindness, attention, and respect any media representative could ask for. So people beyond HMS also hailed Edwards. “Jon could basically tell you no and have you buy him a beer later because he was so happy,” said Joe Crowley, who handles public relations for Ty Gibbs and the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing team. “He had like a magic touch of just working (through problems).”

Kyle Larson’s championship was a tribute befitting the bygone HMS legend. Meanwhile, the team hoisted another achievement proudly, attributed to another driver.

An 8-time honor

While Kyle Larson dedicated his title to Jon Edwards, their team had already racked up another achievement. Chase Elliott has been voted NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver in the Cup Series for the eighth consecutive season. The results were announced during the NASCAR Awards celebration, with Elliott receiving 56 percent of the total votes cast. The other top five drivers in the voting, in alphabetical order, were Ryan Blaney, Ross Chastain, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Larson.

This marked the latest milestone for the No. 9 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. Chase Elliott has been voted the most popular driver in all but two of his Cup Series seasons. The first two seasons of Elliott’s career, 2016 and 2017, saw the award go to Dale Earnhardt Jr. The latter retired after the 2017 season. Elliott said, “Thank you for the votes. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to do that and support us in that way and support me in that way.”

Chase Elliott continued that the people’s support matters the most to him. “I tell a lot of people this…that it’s really about the people and the support that I get to see firsthand. I know not everybody has that vantage point or that perspective. But it truly is incredible, and every year it blows me away to travel to parts of the country that you would never think that people are that passionate about what we’re doing. I just want to make sure everyone understands that I’m forever grateful for that.”

Evidently, Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott are the shining stars of the team in 2025. Here’s to wishing Larson and HMS greater heights for the future!